Typewriting-machine



W. F. HELMOND. TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 19, 1917. 1,854,298. PatentedSept. 28,1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

@J, i a a: 4/ 24 W .'F. HELMOND. TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

PatntedSept. 28,1920.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. HELMOND, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB TO UNDERWOOD TYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK,

TYIEWRITIN Application filed April 19,

T0 CZZZrZOhOWb it may cimcem.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. HEL MOND, a citizen of the United States, residing in Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invent ed certain new and useful Improvements in Typewriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to typewriting machines, and more particularly to bichrome ribbon-shifting mechanism whereby either field of the typewriter ribbon may be rendered effective. My invention also relates to means for silencing th'e ribbon-vibrating mechanism during stencil-cutting opera tions.

One object of the invention is to provide a simplified structure, inexpensive to manufacture and readily applied to the machine;

In carrying out my invention, I provide a single color shift key which is effective, at successive depressions, to shift the usual connector or actuator, mounted on the universal bar, to so connect the ribbon-vibrator that the ribbon-carrier will be lifted different amounts to present the different fields of the ribbon to the types when the latter are swung to the printing position. I

To set the machine for stencil work, I have provided another key which moves the connector to a neutral position where it is ineffective to actuate the ribbon -vibrator during the actuation of the type-bars.

I have also arranged the mechanism so that. when the machine is set for stencilcutting, a depression of the color key will always shift the machine to render the same field of the ribbon effective, which may be either blue or black, preferably black.

An indicator or signal is provided which, through a sight-opening in the cover plate at the front of the machine, exhibits the color of the ribbon field in use. The arrangement is such that when the machine is set for stencil-cutting, equal amounts of both colors on the indicator are exhibited through the sight-opening.

' Other features and advantages will here inafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional side view of an Underwood typewriting machine, showing my invention applied thereto, the

N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

G-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 28, 1920.

1917. Serial No. 163,111.

section being taken substantially through the middle of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a skeleton perspective view, showing the ribbon-vibrating mechanism and the bichrome shift and stencil release key connected thereto, the vibrator being connected to actuate the black field of the ribbon.

Fig. 3 is a detailfront view of the ribhon-shifting or field-changing mechanism, showing the parts set for the black field .of the ribbon.

Fig. 4 is a similar view, with some of the parts removed, showing the color key depressed and the parts moved to change the connection of the ribbon-vibrator.

Fig. 5 shows the position of parts after the key has returned to normal from the Fig. 4 position.

Fig. 6 shows the position of the parts when the stencil key is moved to its effective position, to disconnect the ribbon-vibrator.

Fig. 7 shows the position of parts at the end of a stencil-releasing operation, effected by the depression of the color key.

Character keys 11, when depressed against the tension of return springs 12, rock bell cranks 13 to swing type-bars 14 upwardly and'rearwardly about a fulcrum 15 to cause lower and upper-case types 16 and 17, respectively, to print through a ribbon 18 against a platen 19, 'rotatably supported upon a platen frame 20. The platen frame 20 is swingingly supported for case-shift movements on the usual carriage 21. The carriage 21 is moved from right to left of the machine, during printing operations, by the usual spring drum (not shown), and travels on front and rear rails 22 and 23, respectively.

Letter-feed movements of the carriage are controlled by the usual escapement, comprising a dog maker 24, having a loose dog 25 and a fixed dog 26 thereon, which are caused to reciprocate between the teeth of the escapement wheel'27 associated with a pinion28, meshing with a rack 29 pivotally mounted on thecarriage frame 21 at 30. The type-bars 14: are provided with heels 31 which engage with a curved universal bar 32 to move the frame 33 rearwardly, causing a cross-bar 34 thereof to engage the dog rocker 24 and reciprocate the dogs 25 and 26, as above stated, thereby engaging with the teeth of the escapement wheel to effect letter feed movements of the typewriter carriage. The universal-frame 33 is guided in its movement bythe usual rocking 'arms 35.

' Ordinarily, the lower-case types 16 are effective to print against the platen. When it is desired to print uppercase characters the platen is lifted to upper-case position by means of a cross-bar 36, forming part of a. shift frame, not shown, which is moved upwardly, moving the platen 19 therewith by means of a roller 37 which travels back and forth on the crossbar 36 during letterspace movements of the carriage.

To vibrate the ribbon 18 during the printing operations, there is secured to the crossbon 18 to the types.

A uniform movement of the universal frame 33 is effective to vibrate the ribbon to different positions to expose either a black field 45 or a red field 46, of the ribbon 18, to the printing type. The amount of movement of the vibrator-42 is dependent upon the setting of the connector 39, which has a lateral movement controlled from a rock shaft 47, having an arm 48 connected to a slide bar 49 extending from the connector 39. 5

- It will be seen at Fig. 2 that the vibrator 42 is provided with two pins and 51,

projecting laterally therefrom and in opposite directions. It will also be seen that the pin 50 is further away from the fulcrum 43 than the pin 51, and that the pin 50 fits into the slot 40 of the connector 39. It will further 'beseen that the connector 39 is set to impart to the ribbon-vibrator its minimum throw to present the black field 45 of the ribbon 18 to the printing types. To present the red field 46 to the printing types, the connector 39 is moved rightwardly, thereby connecting the latter to the pin 51, which passes into the slot 41 of the connector 39, while the pin 50 moves out of the slot 40*. If the universal frame 33 now is'moved rearwardly, the vibrator 42 will have a greater throw imparted there The connector may also be shifted to a neutral position so as to render the ribbon 18 ineffective during stencil-cutting operations. This is accomplished by moving the connector 39 to an intermediate position where neither one of the cars 40, 41, will engage with the 'pins 50 and 51, respectively. The distance from the extreme end spring 67 51 is less than the distance between the two ears 40 and 41, therefore, during stencilcutti-ng operations, the connector 39 may be set in a position where it will move idly of the pin 50 to the extreme end of the pin with the frame 33 without afiecting the movement of the vibrator 42, the ears 40 and 41 being out of engagement with their respective pins 50 and 51.

To changethe field of the ribbon 18, or, in other words, toset the connector 39 in black or red position, I have provided a key 52, which, when depressed, swings a key-lever 53 about a fulcrum 54 to cause a downward movement of a draw-link or pivoted element 55, detachably connected to a hook 56 on the key-lever 53. Let it be assumed that the parts are connected as in Figs. 1,2 and 3, to present the black field 45 of the ribbon 18 to the printing types, and that it is desired to shift the mechanism so that the red field 46 may be presented instead. The downward movement of the link 55, under these conditions, will cause aheaded stud or pin 57, secured to the upper. end of said link, to move down on an incline 58.

of a shiftable controller or cross-arm 59 secured to the rock shaft 47, until the stud 57 reaches a hooked portion 60 (Fig. 4), of the cross-arm 59, when it becomes effective to rock the shaft 47 and the arm 48 projecting therefrom in a clockwise-direction, thus pulling the connector 39 rightwardly by means of the link 49 and connecting the ear 41 to the pin 51 while the car 40 is being disconnected from the pin 50. The movement of the link 55 may be arrested by a hub 61, on a flanged collar 62 securedto the rock shaft 47, the hub 61 projecting into a V-shaped slot 63 formed by two curved portions 64' and 65 of the link 55.

It will be seen by an inspection of Figs. 2 and 4 that the link 55 and key 52 are moved against the tension of a return One end of said spring is connected to. a pin 68 on an arm 69 projecting downwardly from the cross-arm 59, the spring being held between two ears 70, to shift the spring to change the directlon of the pull thereof on the link 55 when the latter is restored from the Fig. 4 to the Fig. 5 position, in which latter figure the lower part of the slot 63, formed by the portions 64 and 65, rests against the hub 61.

To shift from red to black, the key52 is again actuated, during the early part of which the upper part of the link 55 is position, there is provided a detent indicated in Fig. 7. This movement of the rock shaft 47 is effective through the arm 48 and the link 49 to shift the connector 39 out of engagement with the pin 51'and into engagement with the pin 50, as indicated in Fig. 2. Thus, if the frame 33 is now actuated, the ribbon-carrier will be lifted through a smaller distance to present the black field 45 of the ribbon to the printing types.

To hold the parts in either black or red spring 7 3 at the front of the machine, which fits over the forward end of therock shaft 47 and is secured to the frame 74 of the machine by a screw 75. Cooperating with the detent spring 73'is a'pin 76, projecting forwardly from the left side of the cross-arm 59. It will be seen that the pin 76 is pointed so as to engage with either side of a V- shaped portion 77 of the detent spring 73.

To set the machine for stencil work, there is provided a stencilkey 78 which normally occupies an ineffective position, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, and which may be moved leftwardly about a pivot 79 on a bracket 80 secured to the machine frame 74 by screws 75 and 81. When the stencil key is moved leftwardly to its effective position, one of the cams 82, 83, on said lever engages with the pin 76 to move the cross-arm 59 to a position as indicated in Fig. 6, thus rocking the shaft 47 to move the connector 39 by means of the arm 48 and the link 49, toa position where it will be ineffective to engage with either one of the pins 50 or 51 on the ribbon-vibrator 42. The universal frame 33 may now be actuated to reciprocate the escapement devices without any effect on the ribbon-vibrator.

To look the stencil key in its actuated position, there is provided a pin 84 projecting rearwardly therefrom, which normally rests on the horizontal face 85 of a latch or lever.

86 pivoted on the screw 75. When the stencil key 78-'is moved leftwardly about its pivot, the pin 84 is moved from the horizontal face 85, thus permitting the lever 86 to swing about its pivot in a clockwise direction by means of a spring 87 which is connected at one end to the lever 86 and at its other end to the stencil key 78. The spring 87 thus'moves an offset 88 of the lever 86 into the path of the pin 84 to lock the stencil key 78 against returning to its normal position. A stop 89 prevents the lever 86 from snapping past the pin 84.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that the cross-arm 59 can be moved from either the Fig. 3 or the Fig. 5

position to its Fig. 6 position, by means of overthrow of the cross-arm 59, and consequently the rock shaft 47 during the colorshifting operations.

The release of the stencil key is eifected by a depression of the color-shift-key, which 70 always renders the black field of the ribbon effective when shifting from the stencil position. Fig. 6 shows parts in their stencil position. If the link 55 is now actuated, it will move the lower part of the slot 63 away from the hub 61, thus permitting the spring 67 to swing the upper end of the link 55 slightly to the left, so as to bring the pin-57 over the incline 71. During a further downward-movement of the link, the pin 57 is guided by the incline 71 into engagement with the hook-like portion 72, to rock the shaft 47 and shift the connector 39 to engage with the pin 50 of the ribbonvibrator 42.

During the latter .part of the downward movement of the link 55, a pin 89* on said link engages with the lever 86 to depress the latter against the tension of the spring 87 until the offset portion 88 moves out of the path of the pin 84, thus permitting the stencil key 78 to move back to its normal-position, under the influence of the spring 87 (Fig. 7).

To indicate the-color of the effective ribbon field, there is provided an indicator in. the form of a signal 90 which is secured to the forward end of the rock shaft 47 and is provided with black and red portions 92 and 93, respectively, which are exposed to the view of the operator, according to the setting of the mechanism, throu h the circular opening 94 formed in a front plate 95.

To show that the parts are set in their stencil position, equal amounts of each color on the signal 90 are visible through the sight-opening 94, as seen in Fig. 6.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. In a typewriting machine,-the combination with a ribbon-vibrator and actuating means therefor, of shifting means for said actuating means, saidshifting means comprising a key, a shiftable element with two inclined surfaces thereon, a pivoted element engaging with either one of said inclined surfaces to guide said pivoted element into engagement with hook-like portions at the end of said inclined surfaces, said pivoted element'engaging with said hook-like portions to move said shiftable element to change the setting of said actuating mechanism, and a return spring 'which swings said pivoted element during its initial effective movement to engage with the proper inclined surface of said shiftable element.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a ribbon vibrator and actuating means therefor, of shifting means for said actuating means, said shifting means comprising a key, a rock shaft, a cross-arm on said rock shaft, said cross-arm having inclined surfaces extending from a point midway thereof toward its ends, a link connected to said. key, and means on said link co-actin'g with said inclined surfaces .to assist in guiding said link, so that the latter will engage differently with said cross-arm, at successive key depressions, to rock said shaft in different directions.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a ribbon-vibrator and actuating means therefor, of shifting means for said actuating means, said shifting means com-o prising a rock shaft, a controller on said shaft, said controller having inclined surfaces extending from a point midway thereof toward its ends, a key, a pivoted element controlled by said key, and means on said pivoted element to engage said inclined surfaces on said controller. at successive key depressions, to rotate the shaft in either di-' rection, thereby changing the setting of said actuating means.

4. In a typewriting machine, the combina tion with a ribbon-vibrator and actuating means therefor, ofshifting means for said actuating means, said shifting means com prising a shiftable element, a key, a pivoted element controlled by said key which engages with said shiftable element differently at successive key depressions, to set said actuating means to give a greater or'less throw to said ribbon-vibrator, and a second key effective to move said shiftable element from either position to another position, to

render the actuating means ineffective, said pivoted element and said second-mentioned key engaging directly with said shiftable element. x

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a ribbon-vibrator and actuating means therefor, of a key for disconnecting said ribbon-vibrator, means, for locking said key in its effective position, and means for releasingsaid key and for reconnecting said ribbon-vibrator.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a bichrome ribbon-vibrator and actuating means therefor, of a key for disconnecting said ribbon-vibrator, means for locking said key in its actuated position, another key for connecting said ribbon-vibrator differently to render either field of the ribbon-effective, and means controlled from said second-mentioned key for releasing said lcoking means to permit said first-men 1tioned key to return to its ineffective posi- 7. In a typewriting machine, the combinatlon w1th a ribbon-vibrator and actuating means therefor, of shifting means including nausea a key which is effective to set said actuating means to different positions at successive depressions of said key, another key for mov{ means therefor, of shifting means including a key-which is effective to set said actuating means to different positions at, successive depressions of said key, another key for moving said actuating means to aneutral position, a pivoted latch for locking said secondmentioned key in its actuated position, and means controlled by said first-mentioned key for actuating said latch to release the. second-mentioned key.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a bichrome ribbon, a vibrator and actuating means -therefor,4of shifting means 7 including a key which is effective to set said actuating means to different positions at key for moving said actuating means to a 1 successive actuations of said key to render either field of said ribbon effective, another neutral position,- so' as to render the ribbon ineffective, said shifting means including also a rock shaft having a cross-arm thereon, with which both of said keys cooperate a latch for locking said second-mentioned key in its actuated position, and means for actuating said latch to release said secondmentioned key, said releasing meansbeing controlled by said first-mentioned key.

10. In a typewriting machine,the combination with a ribbon-vibrator and actuating means therefor, of shifting means for said actuating means, said shifting means comprising a shiftable element, a key, a pivoted element actuated by said key which engages with said shiftable element, a spring for con- I trolling said pivoted element, and means for changing the direction of pull of said spring,

so as to cause said pivoted element to engage differently with said shiftable element.

11. Ina typewriting machine, the combination with a ribbon-vibrator and actuating means therefor, of shifting means for said actuating means, said shifting means comprising a key, a rock shaft, a cross-arm on said rock shaft, a link connected to said key, inclined surfaces on said cross-arm to assist in guiding said link, so that the latter will engage differently with said cross-arm at successive key depressions, and a spring shiftable by'said key which causes said link to engage with the proper inclined surface on said cross-arm.

12. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a. polychrome ribbon, a vibrator and actuating means therefor, of shifting.

means for said actuating means, said shifting means comprislng a rock shaft, an indlcator on sald rock shaft, said indicator having colors thereon corresponding to the colors of the polychrome ribbon, and a cover-plate having a sight-opening therein through which is visible the indicator to show the color corresponding to the color of that field of the ribbon being used.

13. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a ribbon-vibrator and actuating means therefor, of shifting means for said actuating means, said shifting means comprising a shiftable element, a key, a pivoted element controlled by said key which engages with said shiftable element at successive key depressions to set said actuating mechanism 'in different positions, two stops, and a detent spring for holding said shiftableelement against either of said stops to retain said element in either position to which it may be moved by said key.

14. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a bichrome ribbon, a vibrator and actuating means therefor, of shifting means including a link and a key which, during ribbon field-changing operations, is effective to set said actuating means to different positions, to render either field of said ribbon effective, another key for moving said actuating means to a neutral position, so as to render the ribbon ineffective, said shifting means including a rock shaft having a cross-arm thereon, with which both of said keys cooperate, and a return sp ing for said link," said return spring being shiftable during ribbon field-changing operations to change the direction of pull of said spring so that the latter will be effective to assist said link to engage properly with said cross-arm during the following key actuation, said spring being also shiftable by said second-mentioned key to a position where it will be effective, at the depression of said first-mentioned key, to assist in guiding said link to engage with said cross-arm, so that the same ribbon field will always be rendered effective when moving said actuator from its neutral to its effective position.

15. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a bichrome ribbon, a vibrator and actuating means therefor, of shifting means including a rock shaft, a cross-arm on said rock shaft, a link engaging with said cross-arm, a key for said link, a spring shiftable by said key to cause said link to engage differently with said cross-arm at successive actuations of said key, another key engaging with said cross-arm to render said actuating means ineffective, said second-mentioned key being effective .to shift said spring, so that the latter will assist-said link to so engage the cross-arm, when the latter is shifted from its central position, to connect said actuating means always for the same field of the ribbon, a detent for holding said cross-arm in either position to which it may be moved, and a latch for locking said second-mentioned key in its actuated position, said latch being actuated by said link to permit said second-mentioned key to return to its normal position.

16. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a ribbon having a plurality of color' fields and type adapted to print through said ribbon, of a controller to determine the field of said ribbon which is to be presented to the type, said controller having inclined surfaces thereon, each surface corresponding to a color field of said ribbon, said controller also having a hook at the termination of each surface, a key, a member connected to said key, and means carried by said member to engage any one of said surfaces and be guided thereby into engagement with the hook at the end thereof to move said controller to thereby determine the field of said ribbon which is to be presented to the type.

17. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a ribbon having a plurality of color fields and type adapted to print through said ribbon, of a controller to determine the field of said ribbon which is to be presented to the type, said controller having inclined surfaces thereon, each surface corresponding to a color field of said ribbon, said controller also having a hook at the termination of each surface, a key, a swinging member controlled by said key, means carried by said member to engage any one of said surfaces and be guided thereby into engagement with the hook at the end thereof to move said controller to thereby determine the field of said ribbon which is to be presented to the type, and means for swinging said member toward one of said guiding surfaces during the initial movement of said ke {8. In' a typewriting machine, the combination with a ribbon having a plurality of color fields and type adapted to print through said ribbon, of a controller to determine the field of said ribbon which is to be presented to the type, said controller having inclined surfaces thereon, each surface corresponding to a color field of said ribbon, said controller also having a hook at the termination of each surface, a key, a swinging member controlled by said key, means carried by said member to engage any one of said surfaces and be guided thereby into engagement with the hook at the end thereof to move said controller to thereby determine the field of said ribbon which is to be presented to the type, and a spring for returning said key, said spring also acting to swing said member toward one of said guiding surfaces during the initial movement of said key.

19. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a ribbon having a plurality of color fields and type adapted to print through said ribbon, of a controller having cross-arms to determine the field of said I'll)- .bon which is to be presented to the type, a key, a member Connected to said key, and

means carried by said controller to guide said member into engagement w1th dlfierent cross-arms on alternate key depressions thereby determining which field of the ribbon is to be presented to the type. 20. In a typewriting machine, the combnation with a ribbon having a plurality of color fields and type adapted to print through said ribbon, of a controller to determine the field of said ribbon which is to be presented to the type, a key, means connected 'to said key to engage said controller at successive key depressions to determine the field of said ribbon which is to be pre-' sented to the type, a second key, normally disconnected from said controller, for engaging and moving said controller to a position such that neither field of said-ribbon is presented to the type.

21. In a typewriting machine, the combination with color-printing mechanism, including a key to determine the color printed,

and type co-acting therewith to print, of

means for preventing co-action between said.

color-printing mechanism and said type at the operation thereof, and means, controlled by said key, for restoring said co-action and at the restoration of said controlling means to effective position.

' 23. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a ribbon having a plurality of color fields and type adapted to print through said ribbon, of means controlling said ribbon to present difierent fields thereof to said type, means for rendering said controlling means ineifective, means for retaining said controlling means in inefi'ective position, and means, rendered effective by actuationof said controlling means, for releasing said retaining means and rendering said controlling means efi'ective to cause said ribbon to present a different field to the action of said type.

2%. In a typewriting' machine, the combination w1th a ribbon having a plurality of .color fields and type adapted to print through Said-ribbon, of a control e l termining the field of said ribbon which is to be presented tothe type, a key, means connected to said key for moving said controller, and a spring connecting said controller and said means, in such manner as to change the direction of pull thereof on each key depression, so as to alternately determine the field of said ribbon which is to I be presented to said type.

25. In a typewriting. machine, the combination with a ribbon vibrator, of actuating means therefor adapted for use with a polychrome ribbon, means, controlled by a single key, for normally effecting changes in said actuating means in cyclic order to cause corresponding changes in the colors printed, a device to render said actuating means 'ineifective, and means controlled by said key for rendering said device ineffective, and restoring said actuating means to a condition to enable printing.

- 26. In a typewriting machine, thecombination with a ribbon having a plurality of color fields and type adapted to print through said ribbon, of a controller for determining which field of said ribbon shall be presented to the type, said controller occupying a neutral position in which neither field of said ribbon is presented to said type, and an indicator carried by said controller for showing which ribbon field is presented to saidtype, and for also showing when neither field is presented.

27. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a ribbon vibrator, of actuating means therefor adapted for use with a polychrome ribbon, means, controlled by a single member, for normallyeffecting changes in said actuating means in cyclic order to cause corresponding changes in the colors printed, 'a device to render said actuating means inefi'ective, means'to lock said device in operative position, and means, controlled by said member, for releasing said device and restoring said actuating means to'efiective condition.

28. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a ribbon vibrator, of'actuating means therefor adapted for-use with ribbons having diiferent longitudinal fields to be positioned over the printing point, means, controlled by a single key,- for shifting said actuating means to enable printing through different fields, a device to render said actuating means ineffective, and means controlled by said key for restoring said device to normal condition.

29. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a ribbon vibrator, of actuating means therefor adapted for use with ribbons having difierent longitudinal fields to be positioned over the printing point, means, controlled by a single member, for shifting said actuating means to enable the printing through different fields, a device to render said actuating means inefl'ective, and means, controlled by said member, for restoring said device to normal condition, and concomitantly restoring said shifting means to effective condition.

30. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a ribbon vibrator, of actuating means therefor adapted for use with ribbons having difierent longitudinal fields to be positionediover the printing point, means, controlled by a single key, for shifting said actuating means to enable printing through different fields, a device to render said actuating means ineffective, and means, controlled by said key, to restore said device to normal condition, and for setting said shifting means to eiiective condition for printing in a predetermined field.

31. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a ribbon vibrator and actuating means therefor, of shifting means for said actuating means, said shifting'means comprising a shiftable element, a key, a pivoted element, actuated by said key, which engages With said shiftable element, an urg- WILLIAM F. HELMOND.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM P. SMITH, SHIRLEY E. GLEDHILL. 

